Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester

Hugh de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester (3rd Creation) (c. 1291 – 10 November 1347) was the second son of Sir Hugh de Audley, Lord Audley by Iseult de Mortimer and Great great grandson of King Henry II. He held many offices including Knight of Stratton in Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire, of Gratton, Staffordshire, the King's bachelor, Sheriff of Rutland, and was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.

Family

His father, Hugh I de Audley (ca. 1267 – ca. 1326), was from Stratton Audley in the English County of Oxfordshire. His mother was Isolde (Iseult) (c. 1260 – 1336 or after), daughter of Roger de Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, a member of the Mortimer family of Marcher Lords, many of whom were Earl of March. Isolde was the widow of Sir Walter de Balun. Hugh de Audley and Isolde had two children in addition to Hugh, John de Audley, born circa 1293, and Alice de Audley, born circa 1304 who married firstly Ralph de Greystoke, and later Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville de Raby

Life

Hugh de Audley was born in Stratton Audley in the English County of Oxfordshire. He married Margaret de Clare, widow of Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall), who was the favourite (and possibly lover) of King Edward II of England. They had a daughter, Margaret de Audley (born c. 1318 in Stafford), who was abducted as a wife by Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford. He served as High Sheriff of Rutland from 1316 to 1324 and again from 1327 to 1349. Following his death, de Audley was buried in Tonbridge Priory.